Apparatus for forming two spaced bosses on metal cable



NOV. 17, 1970 RE l APPARATUS FOR FORMING TWO SPACED BOSSES ON METALCABLE 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 IIIIIII' Filed June 13, 1968 gram RNE$T came/e5fORNEk' Nov. 17, 1970 R. E. CARRIERE APPARATUS FOR FORMING TWO SPACEDBOSSES ON METAL CABLE Filed June 13, 1

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An Q3 Q United States Patent C) US. Cl. 229-335 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The equipment includes a bench equipped with means forgripping a cable at a certain distance from one of its ends, and withmeans for the compression of part of the cable between its end and itsgripped part and two shells the internal forms which match the forms ofthe two bosses to be formed on the cable, and by an intermediate sleevedismantleable into several parts, the internal diameter of which isequal to the diameter of the cable and the length of which issubstantially equal to the distance between the two bosses to be formed.By the setting in action of the compression means the gripped cable iscompelled to distend into the two shells fitted thereon, while theportion thereof received in the intermediate sleeve placed between thetwo shells retains its original diameter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the construction ofequipment for the formation of double bosses on prestressing cables forreinforced concrete work, namely a traction boss formed following ananchoring boss.

The equipment according to the invention is noteworthy in that it isconstituted on the one hand by a bench equipped with means for grippinga cable at a certain distance from one of its ends, and with means forcompression of the part of the cable between its end and its grippedpart, and on the other hand by two shells the internal forms of whichmatch the forms of the two bosses to be formed on the cable, and byintermediate sleeve dismantleable into several parts, the internaldiameter of which is equal to the diameter of the cable and the lengthof which is substantially equal to the distance between the two bossesto be formed. The engagement is such that by the setting in action ofthe compression means the gripped cable is compelled to distend into thetwo shells, while its part received in the intermediate sleeve placedbetween the two shells retains its original diameter, therefore thebosses are stabilized by pouring mortar or other appropriate productinto the shells and is permitted to set the mortar before the cableequipped with its two shells enclosing the bosses is withdrawn from thebench and the intermediate sleeve is removed.

The invention has at least one of the following characteristics:

(a) The bench is in the form of a box of elongated form, one end wall ofwhich forms a bearing face for the means for gripping the cable, whileits opposite end wall forms the bearing face for a hydraulic jack forcompression of the said cable.

(b) The bottom of the box is equipped with centering supports for theshells and the intermediate sleeve.

(c) The intermediate sleeve is supported by a carriage mounted forlongitudinal sliding in the bench, preferably in two slideways formed inthe longitudinal walls of the said bench.

(d) A lower half-sleeve is rigidly fixed on the carrier and an upperhalf-sleeve is hingedly mounted thereon and equipped with means fortightening it against the lower half-sleeve.

(e) The means for gripping the cable consist of an assembly of wedges orjaws having a common cylindrical bore the external faces of whichpossess a certain slope, and which are in contact with the internalfaces of similar slope of a guide intended to bear against an internalend face of the bench.

(f) The guide of the wedges is in several parts received in acylindrical bore of an anchoring piece immobilised not onlytranslationally but also rotationably in the bench.

(g) The device for gripping the cable at a predetermined distance fromits end can also be constituted by two half vice-jaws gripped byhigh-strength bolts.

(h) Between the jack and the end of the cable a thrust piece is disposedwhich is guided axially in the bench and comprises a ferrule forreception of the end of the said cable.

(i) The thrust piece is equipped with a screw or other locking elementadapted to keep the cable under compression after release and removal ofthe jack, for the purpose of the casting of the mortar, or otherappropriate product, for stabilization of the bosses.

The invention will be better understood on reading of the followingdescription and examination of the accompanying drawings which show, byway of example, a form of embodiment of equipment according to theinvention for the formation of double bosses on cables for prestressingreinforced concrete work.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 represents diagrammatically, in perspective, the whole of theequipment and the cable end upon which two bosses are to be formed, theintermediate sleeve being assumed to be detached from the bench and theform of the thrust piece being simplified, for reasons of clarity ofrepresentation,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the whole of the equipment in position for anoperation of formation of two bosses on a cable end,

FIG. 3 is a vertical section along the line IIIIII in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross-section along the line IVIV in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-section along the line VV in FIG. 3.

For the formation of two bosses, namely an anchoring boss 1 (FIG. 3 anda traction boss 2, on a cable 3 intended for the prestressing ofreinforced concrete work, the equipment as represented comprises aspecial bench designated as a whole by 5 (FIG. 1) and a certain numberof special pieces for fitting on the cable.

These special pieces include a set of pieces forming a device forgripping the cable at a predetermined distance from its end. This set isconstituted by two wedges 11, 12 which possess. a common cylindricalbore, the diameter of which is equal to that of the cable 3 (see alsoFIGS.

1 and 5). These two Wedges leave between them a certain interval in adiametrical plane so that they can grip the cable. Each possesses aninclined face 13, 14 which is in contact with a corresponding respectiveinclined face 15, 16 pertaining to a guide generally designated 17 anditself constituted by two pieces 17a, 17b which are also separated by asmall interval in a diarnetrical plane. The lateral faces of the twowedges 11 and 12 are applied respectively against the correspondingparallel faces 18a, 19a and 18b, 19b of the two parts of the guide 17.

The guide 17 possesses a cylindrical outer surface lodged in acorresponding cylindrical bore 21 of an anchoring piece 22 and it isequipped with a collar 23 intended to bear against a face of theanchoring piece.

A shell 26 (FIGS. 1 to 3) for the anchoring boss and a shell 27 for thetraction boss possess internal forms matching the forms which the saidbosses are to possess. Their cylindrical outer surface presents adiameter smaller than that of the bore 21 of the anchoring piece so thatsubsequently the latter can be withdrawn by passing it over the shells,after the two bosses have been formed, the guide 17 and the wedges beingdismantleable since they are in two parts.

The bench is constituted by an assembly of box form formed from steelplates welded to one another, one of the end plates 31 being intended toserve with its internal face as a bearing surface for the anchoringpiece 22, and, so that the cable end equipped with the said anchoringpiece may be lowered within the bench, this wall 31 has a slot 32 ofwidth corresponding to the diameter of the cable.

The bottom of the bench is equipped with two cradles 34, 35 of suitableshape, adapted to support the two shells 26, 27 respectively at thecorrect height.

The two lateral walls 36, 37 of the bench 5 possess two longitudinalslots 38, 39' which serve as slideways for the heads of four screws,such as 41 which is secured to a carriage generally designated by 43 andwhich is intended to support an intermediate sleeve 44. The sleeve 44 isindicated on the cable 3 of FIG. 1, solely for clarity ofrepresentation. In reality the sleeve 44 is formed by a lowerhalf-sleeve 4411 which is secured to the carriage 43 and an upperhalf-sleeve 44b hingedly mounted on the carriage. The sleeve 44 iscarried on two levers 48, 49 (see also FIG. 4) pivotably mounted onspindles 51, 52 carried by this carriage. The cable 3 can be grippedbetween the two half-sleeves by means of two handles 55, 56respectively. The handles, intended to bear respectively on the tops ofthe ends of the two levers 48, 49, are screwed into the central part oftwo caps 57, 58 which are pivotably mounted about horizontal spindles61, 62 carried by the carriage 43. Locking nuts 63, 64 permit thelocking the handles 55, 56.

In the vicinity of the other end of the bench 5 another carriage 71 canslide, and this carries screws 72, 73 slidingly mounted in twohorizontal slots 74, 75 serv ing as slideways for the heads of the saidscrews. This carriage also slides on two straight strips 68, 69 fixedagainst the inner faces of the bench and forming slideways. The carriage71 is equipped with a ferrule 77 the end of which has a hollow 78 ofsuitable dimensions to receive the preferably suitably whipped end ofthe cable 3.

In the space between the carriage 71 and the end wall 81 of the bench 5,a hydraulic jack 82 can be received. The jack 82 is (FIG. 1) equippedwith two pistons 83, 84 disposed on either side of the central verticalplane of the said jack, so as to come to bear against the adjacent faceof the carriage 71 on either side of the geomet rical axis of theferrule 77 and consequently of the cable to be compressed.

Axially of the ferrule 77 there is a blocking screw 86 which screws intothe end Wall 81 of the bench. This screw is for example equipped with ahead 87 pierced with radial holes into which a tommy bar can beintroduced to rotate it. The removable jack assembly 82 possesses acentral groove 89 in which the blocking screw 86 can be received.

In order to impart rigidity to the assembly and for convenience inhandling, the two longitudinal Walls of the bench 5 possess two upperflanges 91, 92 situated in one and the same plane.

Finally a horse-shoe-shaped packing piece 94 of variable thickness canbe interposed between the intermediate sleeve 44 and the shell 26.

This equipment can be utilised in the following manner:

The anchoring piece 22 is solidly fixed on a cable 3 at a specificdistance from its end by means of the wedges 11, 12 and the guides 17a,17b. Then the anchoring boss S shell 26 and the traction boss shell 27are successively slipped onto the cable.

The upper half-sleeve 44b mounted on the carriage 43 of the bench beingopen, the cable equipped with the above-mentioned parts is lowered intothe said bench, so that it rests on the lower half-sleeve 44a and sothat the anchoring piece 22 places itself against the internal face ofthe end wall 31 of the bench. The two shells 26, 27 rest on theirrespective cradles 34 and 35, while the anchoring piece 22 rests on thesupport cross-piece 85. As this anchoring piece is of the same width asthe bench, it is immobilised in rotation also. The upper half-sleeve 44bis turned down on the cable and tightened by means of the two handles55, 56. The carriage 71 is brought closer to the traction boss shell 27,it being ensured that the ferrule 77 is well engaged on the end of thecable. The removable jack 82 is put into position abutting against theend face 81 of the bench. This jack is set in action so that the cableparts situated in the two shells are distended, forming the two bosses 1and 2. The intermediate part of the cable included between these twobosses is unable to distend since it is imprisoned and gripped in theintermediate sleeve 44. When the compression is terminated, the blockingscrew 86 is tightened until its end bears against the carriage 71.Thereafter the hydraulic jack 82 can be released and removed from thebench. The assembly comprising the bench and the cable part which itencloses is erected so that the mortar 98, 99 for stabilization of thebosses can be poured into the two shells. When the mortar issufficiently set, the blocking screw 86 can be released, the sleeve 44opened and the cable end equipped with its two shells and the anchoringpiece assembly 22 can be withdrawn upwards. Then the guide 17 isexpelled on the side opposite to the anchoring boss 1, so that thewedges 15 and 16 are released. The wedges and the two halves 17a, 17b ofthe guide 17 are withdrawn and finally it is then possible to withdrawthe anchoring piece 22 itself, by passing it over the two shells 26, 27.The external diameters of the shells 26 and 27 are made smaller than thebore 21 of the said anchoring piece for this purpose.

Later, when the cable has been placed in position in the prestressedreinforced concrete work and has been placed under its definitivetension, it will be cut through between the two bosses and it will thenbe possible to recover the traction boss shell 27. A draw taper 8 provided of the shell 27 as indicated at (FIG. 3) to facilitate the removalof the anchoring boss and the stabilizing mortar from the mould.

The invention is not of course limited to the form of embodiment asdescribed and represented, modifications can be eifected therein withoutthereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus for example the device for gripping the cable at a predetermineddistance from its end can equally be constituted by two half vice jawsgripped by high-strength bolts.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for forming two bosses on a metal cable used forreinforced concrete, comprising a bench having a box-like shape, meansnon-rotatably carried by the bench for gripping the cable at a distancefrom one of its ends, means supported on the bench for compressing thepart of the cable between said one end and the gripped part, two shellseach having an internal shape corresponding to the shape of the boss tobe formed, an intermediate sleeve being separable into at least twoparts, said sleeve having an internal diameter being equal to thediameter of the cable and the length thereof being substantially equalto the desired distance between the two bosses to be formed, whereuponactuation of said compressing means causes the cable to be distendedinto the two shells placed on it while the shape of the part of thecable in the intermediate sleeve is retained in its normal shape, saidintermediate sleeve being removable from the cable and the cable beingremovable from the bench, and means being provided for retaining, atleast temporarily, the shells around the bosses after the cable isremoved from the bench.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bench is in the formof an elongated box having one end wall forming a bearing face for themeans for gripping the cable and an opposite end wall forming a bearingface for the compressing means and wherein the compressing means is ahydraulic jack.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, having a carriage mounted in twoslideways formed in the longitudinal walls of the box, a lowerhalf-sleeve of the intermediate sleeve rigidly mounted on the carriage,an upper halfsleeve hinged to the carriage and means on the carriage fortightening the upper half-sleeve against the lower half-sleeve. meansfor gripping the cable comprises a guide having a 4. An apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered bore and a surface engageablewith said bearing face, and wedge members together forming a cylindricalbore and having inclined external faces engageable with said taperedbore.

5. An apparatus for forming an anchoring boss and a traction boss on ametal cable used for reinforced concrete comprising an elongatedrectangular box forming a bench, a wall at one end of the bench having aU-shaped recess of a width corresponding to the diameter of the cable,an anchoring piece received therein having a width equal to the internalwidth of the bench and having a cylindrical bore, a two-piece guidereceived in said anchoring piece having an outer diameter equal to thediameter of the cylindrical bore and having a tapered internal bore, twowedges received in said guide having inclined external surfaces slidableon the surfaces of the tapered bore and having together an internal boreequal to the diameter of the cable, a first cradle spaced from the wallof the bench for supporting a first shell for the anchoring boss, asecond cradle spaced from the first cradle for supporting a second shellfor the traction boss, each of said shells having an internal shape ofthe boss to be formed, a first carriage mounted in two slideways formedin the longitudinal walls of the box, a lower halfsleeve rigidly mountedon the carriage, an upper halfsleeve hinged to the carriage, screw meansfor tightening the upper half-sleeve on the cable supported by the lowerhalf-sleeve, a second carriage slidably mounted in two longitudinalslots in the longitudinal walls of the box, a hollow ferrule attached tothe second carriage for receiving an end of the cable, a hydraulic jack,having two pistons, for fitting between the second carriage and theother end wall of the box; and a blocking screw connected to the secondcarriage and passing through the hydraulic jack while being threadedlyengaged in said other end wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,854- 8/1931 Sorensen 7863 X2,193,078 3/1940 Schenk 72353 X 3,124,090 3/1964 Zatyko 72-353 GILWEIDENFELD, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 72353

